Switch



iNov. 18, 1930. w. o. BENJAFIELD 1,781,970

SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 19, 1927 BYLZS/TLW@ Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT! OFFCE.

SWITCH Application led September 19, 1927, Serial No. 220,548.

This invention relates to improvements in switches, and the objects of the invention are to provide a silent type of switch requiring only one push button, preferably for electric light systems.

Further objects are to provide a switch of this description of few and durable parts which can be manufactured and placed on the market at a comparatively low cost.

l@ lilith these and other objects the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form l part of same.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference indicate correspending parts in each figure:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the 39 switch.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a modified form.

L5 Figure 4t is a longitudinal section of a further modified form of switch as shown in Figure 1 without springs and without the casing.

Figure 5 is a. detail of a modied form of 39 contact member.

More particular reference to the drawings discloses a casing A adapted to be inserted within a wall or the like B. `Within this casing is my improved silent push switch 35 consisting of a spindle 10 on which is rigidly mounted a disc 11 having around the periphery thereof at spaced intervals a series of insulating portions 12. FiXedly secured to the spindle l() is a ratchet wheel 13 and meshing with this ratchet wheel is a rack 14 pivotally mounted at 15 in a horizontally extending and protruding push rod 16. This rack 14 being loosely mounted engages with the ratchet wheel 18 s0 that on the rod 16 being pushed inwardly the disc 11 is rotated with a minimum of a clicking noise.

In order to retain the rod 16 and the rack 14 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 I provide at the outer end of the rod and suspended therefrom in any suitable manner as Renewed. April l, 1930.

at 32 a weight 31. To prevent the return of the disc wheel 11 when the push rod 16 is released I provide a dog 2O pivotally mounted at 21 on an arm 22 rigidly secured to the casing, the dog being spring actuated by suit- 55 ably bent springs 23 on the arm and designed to retain the dog in engagement with the ratchet wheel 13.

Adjacent the periphery of the disc 11 are the terminals 24 and 25 of an electric light 60 circuit. The terminal 25 being a magnetic terminal will eliminate the destructive arc caused by Contact of the terminal with the disc. In operation these terminals contact with an energized portion 26 of the disc wheel7 55 as shown in Figure 1, and an insulated portion 12 in normal position opening the circuit and on the push button 27 on the rod 16 being operated the energized portions 26 will register with the terminals 24 and 25 closing 70 the circuit and will remain closed until the push button 27 is again operated, whereby the circuit is broken by the engagement of the terminals with the insulated portion 12 and the portion 26. 7

In Figure 3 a modified forni of construction is shown in which instead of a disc, a hub 28 'is mounted on the spindle 10 provided with a plurality of spaced arms 29 adapted to individually engage with the terminal 2li, S0 terminal 25 being connected through an arm 30 to the spindle 10 so that on the push but-- ton 2T being pressed the circuit will be closed and will remain closed until again pressed when the circuit will be opened. For actus" ating' the rod or bar 16. I provide. as already described, a weight 31, on a cable 32 which runs over a pulley 33, and is fastened to the end of the rofl 16 as at Self. rl'he bar 16 is a iso provided with stop pins 35 to regulate its travel.

rThis arrangement of a suspended weight 81 travelling over a pulley 33 causes the rod 16 to automatically protrude so that wnen 95 pressure is exerted thereon and the rack 1e f' disengaged from the ratchet wheel 13 the rod 16 and push button 27 thereon will automatically return to normal protruding position opening the circuit. In other words the sus pended Weight obviates the necessity of employ/'ing springs.

ln the further modified `forni as shown in Figure el the stationary Contact terminal 2l is shown in the form of ay pivotally mounted arm with a roller o7 on the outer end thereci engagino' with the periphery 38 of the disc.

flu the Iurther modified `orm of Contact n'icmber as shown in Figure 5 the arms 2:5) are alternately energized and insulated.

As many changes'couid be n'iade in the above construction and ina-ny apiiarentlj-,f widely diii'erent en'ibodiments of my invention, within the scope oi the claims, constructed ndt-hout departing `from tac spi rit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be intcrineted as illustratire and not in a limiting scuse. .Y

ivliat l claim as my invention is l. A switch comprising a. casing, a rolalably mounted shaft in the casing', a contact member on the shaft formed with peripherally spaced insulated portions, spaced terminals associated With said member, a ratchet wheel on the shaft, a. push rod operahie from Without the casing;` and formed wit-li an intermediate racl; portion to engage with the ratchet Wheel, means associated with the rod for continuously exerting pressure out rvardly thereon.

2. The invention according to claim l,l in which the means for causing the push rod to move outwardly comprises a Weight.l flexible susgension means connecting the Weight with the rod and a pulley for the suspension means between the Weight and the end oi'i the rod.

3. The invention according to claim l, in which the means for automatically retaining the ratchet Wheel in position comprises a dog pivotally mounted on an arm secured to the casing and designed to engage with the teeth ot the ratchet Wheel on the latter moving backwardly 'when released fromthe push rod.

el. A device as claimed in claim l in which the disc inen'iber possesses magnetic characteristics.

In Witness whereoif` I have hereunto set my hand.

VALTER- QTlVAY BENJFIELD. 

